Despite rumors early in the transfer window linking Arda Turan with clubs such as Arsenal, a move did not happen. All signs pointed to the Turkish midfielder remaining at Barcelona.

No real offers were made during the transfer window aside from a potential loan move back to his old club, Galatasaray.

Turan left to join Turkey during the international break and all signs pointed him staying despite not being in Ernesto Valverde’s plans.

A move away seemed even less likely when he returned and Barcelona announced that the player would be sidelined after picking up a hamstring injury with his national team.

However, in a turn of events, RAC1 is reporting that the player is set to return to Turkey and join the aforementioned Galatasaray on a two-year loan.

Turan has three years remaining on his Barcelona contract so unless Galatasaray decide to make the move permanent, the player will return to the Catalan side once the loan ends.

It’s a surprising move considering the player expressed his intention to stay at Barcelona and even ruled out a return to Turkey.

He expressed those sentiments in an interview with Turkish program, Beyaz Futbol.

Turan said, “I’m staying. I’m very happy here and I have a contract for another three years.”

He also added, “Galatasaray is my home but I know they don’t want me now. I don’t want to harm the team.”

At the moment, Turan is unpopular with the fans due to his support for Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

He was Josep Maria Bartomeu’s ‘star signing’ during Barcelona’s presidential elections held in the summer of 2015.

The Turkish midfielder joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid for an initial fee of €34 million. He was unable to play the first half of the 2015/2016 season due to Barcelona’s transfer ban.

There were offers from the Chines Super League back in 2016 with the player himself claiming that Barcelona rejected an offer of about €50 million.

Turan never really seemed to fit in to the style of play under Luis Enrique and Valverde made it obvious that he was not in his plans as he was left out of the squad for both Spanish Super Cup game as well as Barcelona’s last league game against Alaves.